Walking Dead Walkout Actor May Be Revealed, Maybe Now Circling Lead In Frank Darabont’s Next Show

You may remember that not long ago rumours were flying about, regarding a cast member from The Walking Dead who had requested to be released from their contract amidst the Frank Darabont resignation/dismissal drama, only to change their mind just in time for their request to be granted. Well…

Darabont is currently working on a TV pilot for a cop show called L.A. Noir (which I am reliably informed is not based on Rockstar’s video game LA Noire), and it has been revealed via The Hollywood Reporter that Jon Bernthal, who plays Shane in The Walking Dead, is tipped for the lead in Darabont’s new project. If chosen, he would once again be playing a cop, this time at the centre of a drama about the LAPD’s mission to bring down crimelord Mickey Cohen.

It’s not hard evidence that Bernthal was the cast member who threatened to walk out, but seeking a lead role in Darabont’s new project is about as close as it’s possible to get as yet. Variety reporter Jeff Sneider seems to have suggested that Bernthal is the unnamed cast member from earlier speculations.

It’s not yet known whether Bernthal will be appearing in The Walking Dead after the end of season 2 , and so this news introduces the possibility of shooting schedule conflicts as well as loyalty division. Will we soon be seeing the last of Shane? Well, if the rumours are true, Bernthal has already been released from his contract.